Final answer:
The student's question '56 less than x cubed' is translated into the algebraic expression x³ - 56, demonstrating a common task in mathematics of converting words into mathematical statements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase '56 less than x cubed' can be expressed algebraically as x³ - 56. When tackling mathematics problems, it is crucial to understand how to translate verbal expressions into algebraic ones. For instance, another math related calculation provided is '56.7 x 66.99', which requires the understanding of significant figures and rounding when performing multiplication.